The students were chosen to
participate in an exciting pilot scheme dubbed ‘Technocamps’ that, if successful, will be rolled out across the country by ITWales.A group of IT students from Swansea College have kicked off the new term by spending a week at nearby Swansea University gaining valuable work experience skills.
The students were chosen to
participate in an exciting pilot scheme dubbed ‘Technocamps’ that, if successful, will be rolled out across the country by ITWales.
During the course of the week the students - from a range of First Diploma, National Diploma and Access to IT courses - split into teams and were challenged to design a new product to improve human computer interaction, researching global success stories such as Google, Facebook and the iPod. Working with ITWales’ Technocamps co-ordinator Fernando Loizides, students were given the opportunity to handle new software tools, develop their own computer-based programmes, produce their own web page and manage a daily blog.
Swansea College Tutor, John Ashley, was delighted with how successful the week had been. He said: "Participating in this pilot scheme has given our students a great opportunity to meet IT professionals as well as sampling a taste of life at a Higher Education level. It has enabled them to not only build on the skills they have already developed at college but given them an insight into the kinds of learning and training options they can consider next. I have already witnessed an added air of confidence with our students back at college this week and if the Technocamps experience has further inspired them into a career in IT, then that’s a great achievement."
On the last day of the project, the students presented their ideas in a Dragons Den style presentation to a panel of judges made up of IT professionals, with the overall winners designing an innovative Personal Travel Aid, called the PTAid, to assist businesspeople travelling worldwide.
Director of ITWales Beti Williams, commented: "As everyone is well aware, there has been a sharp decline in the number of home-grown students applying for computer related degrees over the last few years and this ‘hands-on’ work experience week was a timely reminder to us all that Wales does have a bright future in IT. If we keep developing these programmes year on year with the great support we receive from partners such as Careers Wales, than we can’t fail to raise awareness of and stimulate interest in the challenging career opportunities offered through technology and computing. But it’s going to take more than just the occasional work experience week to move us forward, we need future plans in place which involve academia, government and the IT industry."
The 'Technocamps' initiative has been designed to encourage young people to get practical, hands on experience with new technology and to understand its everyday impact. Launched back in 2004 by ITWales with the support of world-leader in software, Microsoft, it has gone on to become one of the leading programmes in Wales to enhance the teaching and learning experience and empowers students to realise their full potential with technology.
For further information on ITWales or the Technocamps initiative, please visit www.itwales.com or call ITWales on 01792 513384. For studying opportunities at Swansea College, please contact 01792 284000 or visit www.swancoll.ac.uk. For undergraduate opportunities at Swansea University visit www.swan.ac.uk/study.